Outboard motor steering bar



March 25, 1952 w, JEDL-ICKA 2,590,820

OUTBOARD MOTOR STEERING BAR Filed June 30, 1948 William Jedi/aka IN VENTOR.

' Patented Mar. 25 1 952 OUTBOARD MOTOR STEERING BAR William Jedlicka, Garfield Heights, Ohio; Rose Jedlicka, administratrix of said William Jedlicka, deceased, assignor to herself individually Application June 30, 1948, Serial No. 36,113

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful im provements in outboard motors, and more particularly, a steering or handling means for outboard motors.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an attachment for outboard motors that will facilitate outboard motors to be steered in a convenient manner by an operator while standing or seated on either side of the same.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a steering attachment for outboard motors so designed as to facilitate the same to be employed for carrying or positioning an outboard motor relative to a boat, and which will be movable to a raised position to permit the said outboard motor to be cranked or started with the use of the said attachment, and which attachment is movable to a substantially horizontal position to permit the outboard motor to be rotated or turned by an operator in a convenient manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a handle grip attachment for outboard motors that is small and compact in structure and which is quickly and readily applied tc-or removed from a conventional outboard motor in a minimum time.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a steering attachment for outboard motors that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying-drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an outboard motor, showing the present invention applied thereto, and with dotted lines showing the position of the present steering handle for use in starting or cranking the outboard motor;

Figure 2' is a top plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a group perspective view of the present steering handle and the anchoring means therefor; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present inboat by a suitable clamp l8 whereby the same will be quickly and readily removed from the gunwale or applied thereto.

The present invention does not attempt to I claim the above conventional structure, but is 28. Anchor plate 24 is also provided with openings 30 that receive preferably round-headed bolts 32 that extend through the ears I6 to retain the said anchor plate 24 positioned against the under surface of the ears l6. It is noted that the anchor plate 24 is disposed in a substantially horizontal position since the same is removably secured to the projection or band 14' that is rigidly secured in a substantially horizontal position to the tank or chamber l2.

The bifurcated end portions 34 of a subtantially U-shaped hand-grip or steering bar 36 engages the ears 26 of the anchor plate 24. In-

tegrally formed with the end portions of the U- shaped member 36, and disposed between the furcations of the bifurcated terminals 34, is a bearing edge 38 for a purpose which will later be more fully apparent.

Pivot pins, rivets or the like 40 extend through the furcations of the bifurcated terminals 34 and engage the apertures 28 provided in the cars 26, whereby the U -shaped hand-grip 36 will be pivotally carried by the anchor member 24.

The cars 26 are provided with substantially vertical edges 42 that will engage the bearing edges 38 of the hand-grip 36 to limit the downward pivotal movement of the said hand-grip 36 relative to the motor and more particularly the anchor plate 24.

In order to facilitate a convenient gripping of the handle bar 36 there is provided a resilient sleeve or hand receiving element 4! that is suit- 3 ably fixed or loosely applied to the web portion of the handle bar 36.

In practical use of the present invention the hand grip 36 is used for carrying a motor M to a boat on which the same is to be applied and for holding the said motor in position to the boat while the clamp I8 is adjusted. The handle 36 is pivoted to its raised position, as shown best in dotted lines in Figure 1, so that the actuating handle or cord 22 may be pulled to start the said outboard motor. After the motor has been started, the handle bar 36 is pivoted to its lowered, substantially horizontal position, whereby the motor may be steered ina desirable manner.

The steering means employed inconjunction with outboard motors heretofore has been such that an operator must be seated on one side of the motor in order to conveniently steer or guide the same. If the operator were seated on an opposite side, the steering means would be disposed beneath his legs in an undesirable position. The present steering attachment is so designed that a person may seat himself or stand on either side of the outboard motor to steer the same with equal success. Further-,the particular shape of the present handle bar will permit an operator to support his arm on the same so that he can steer the outboard motor with his arm by applying a pressure thereto. Also, the same provides an auxiliary lever or grip which is easily movable during the starting or actuation of the outboard motor.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an outboard motor including a tank band having a pair of spaced horizontal cars, a steering handle comprising an anchor plate having upstanding end portions, means removably securing said anchor plate to and flat against the spaced ears and in a substantially horizontal position, a U-shaped hand grip having bifurcated terminals receiving the upstanding end portions of said anchor plate, said upstanding end portions of said anchor plate having substantially vertical edges, a bearing edge between the furcations of the bifurcated terminals, and horizontal pivot pins connecting the bifurcated terminals to said upstanding end portions, said bearing edge between the furcations of said bifurcated terminals engaging the vertical edges of said upstanding end portions to limit the downward pivotal movement of said hand grip in one direction.

2. In an outboard motor including a tank embracing band having a pair of spaced flat, horizontal ears, an anchor plate contacting said ears and removably secured to and against said ears, said anchor plate having upstanding end portions, a substantially U-shaped hand grip having bifurcated terminals receiving said upstanding end portions, and horizontal pivots securing the bifurcated terminals of said hand grip to said upstanding end portions.

WILLIAM J EDLICKA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

